Backless and possibly strapless brassiere with a reinforcing plate

ABSTRACT

A brassiere, such as a backless and optionally strapless brassiere, includes a basque to accommodate the torso of a user, a pair of concave cups coupled to a portion of the basque, and a pair of reinforcement plates coupled to the concave cups. The reinforcement plates help support a wearer&#39;s chest in each one of the cups. Each of the reinforcement plates include fingers extending from an outside of a respective bra cup toward a center of the respective bra cup. The fingers include a first finger extending under the area of the respective cup.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a backless brassiere and which may bewith or without straps, or with removable straps.

BACKGROUND

Strapless brassieres are known and must overcome the absence of thesupport usually provided by the straps by a particular device. Patent FR2 924 901 on behalf of the Applicant has made known a brassiereincluding a sandwich of thermoformed layers defining two cups andcomprising a reinforcing element incorporated in the sandwich in theform of a plate made of a rigid material in one direction coextensivewith the plate and elastically flexible in a transverse direction. Theplate comprises flexible fingers disposed under and in the cup. Thisbrassiere is highly satisfactory but has a back.

However, at least on some occasions, for example when the users weardresses with low backs, they require having a brassiere that is not onlystrapless but also backless. The majority of the numerous brassieresproposed for this purpose are adhesive, over all or part of the surfacein contact with the chest of the user, which may be unpleasant to wearand upon removing the brassiere. There have been proposed withoutsuccess in a distant past brassieres incorporating an elastic rigidunderwire forming a spring around the torso, for example in documentU.S. Pat. No. 2,428,572 of 1945, but it has not been known since then tomanufacture and commercialize a brassiere comfortable enough to be wornseveral hours straight without discomfort and which had enough hold.

Document U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,107, makes known a brassiere having abottom torso underwire and a high lateral underwire in two portions,however, these two elements are not structurally connected to eachother; although both are inserted in a same textile band forming thebase of the brassiere, they are disjoined and their mechanical action isindependent since the efforts exerting on one of the elements cannot betransmitted to another of the elements. The hold of such a brassiereover the chest has not proven satisfactory.

It is the same for the brassiere known by document U.S. Pat. No.2,440,426; it may comprise one single underwire formed by a wire havinga torso underwire and lateral portions connected to the torso underwire,but these lateral portions are bottom portions, at the same level as thefront basque, which do not allow a good equilibrium of the chest.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The purpose of the invention is to propose a backless and possiblystrapless brassiere, which still ensures a good comfortable and durablehold, of the chest.

The purpose of the invention is met thanks to a backless brassiere witha basque and cups, including at least one internal textile layer, oneexternal textile layer, as well as at least one torso underwire and cupreinforcements disposed between the two textile layers, the torsounderwire being an arched rigid elastic underwire forming a springshaped to partially envelop the torso of the user, the reinforcementsbeing shaped to help support the chest in each one of the cups of thebrassiere, the torso underwire including a substantially low horizontalmain portion corresponding to the front of the torso and to the basqueportion of the brassiere, characterized in that the low main portionconnects on the sides of the torso to two high lateral portions. It isunderstood that reference is made to a structural connection betweenthese portions.

It has been realized that this constitution and this particular shape ofthe underwire where the contact of the underwire with the torso is madehigher laterally than on the front of the brassiere, allows a very goodhold of the chest, with a rise effect of the breasts and prevents thechest from falling forward.

The invention is further characterized in that it exhibits, individuallyor in combination, the following advantageous features.

-   -   The brassiere is strapless or it includes a removable strap        system.    -   The torso underwire is constituted of a rigid elastic wire, for        example metallic or in a rigid plastic material.    -   The rigid elastic wire of the underwire has a substantially        round section, possibly with profiled shapes (grooves, ribs)        lengthwise. The diameter of the metallic wire for example ranges        between 2 and 4 mm. Advantageously still, the wire may have a        flattened section, rectangular or elongated oval, for example of        1 mm thick.    -   The torso underwire comprises on the front middle of its main        portion a concave area in the middle of the global convex shape        of the main portion. The central portion of the low main portion        may also rise upward between the breasts, with a curve        connecting the low portions on the side; this shape will still        be considered as a substantially horizontal low portion, as it        actually is in the spaced apart portions in between the breasts.    -   The high lateral portions are formed of one single piece in the        rigid elastic wire forming the main portion.    -   The high lateral portions are added to the rigid elastic wire        forming the main portion.    -   The high lateral portions are part of a substantially inverted        U-shaped arch. They may comprise a substantially horizontal        portion, or a rounded portion, so that the inverted U is a        square U or a round U, or even another less regular shape. The        high lateral portions are joined to the main low portion by        rising portions, which may be substantially vertical, or more or        less tilted. Most importantly is that there is sufficient height        difference, of a few centimeters, between the bottom portion and        the top portions, for creating a cantilever effect. The high        lateral portions advantageously comprise a maximum height on the        front of the lateral portion, then decrease in height by        continuing rearward on the sides. The lateral portions comprise        elements for fixing the cup reinforcement.    -   The underwire comprises tabs for securing textile layers or for        securing different portions together.    -   The underwire is enclosed in a textile sleeve.    -   The cup reinforcement is in form of a plate made of a rigid        material in one direction coextensive with the plate and        elastically flexible in a transverse direction. By this, is        meant that the plate, due to its constitutive material and its        geometry, is rigid and non-deformable in a direction tangential        to its surface, but it is elastically deformable, incidentally        in modest proportions, in a transverse direction. In other        words, it is possible to bend a portion of the plate and the        latter tends to spontaneously regain its undeformed position.    -   Said plate comprises fingers originating from a lateral region        disposed substantially on the outside of a respective cup and        cooperating with the high lateral portion of the underwire.        Given the geometry and the material, these fingers are        relatively flexible in a direction perpendicular to the surface        of the plate.    -   Said plate comprises a horizontal finger extending substantially        in a horizontal arch under the cup, and several fingers        extending in the cup.    -   The fingers of the plate or at least some of them are shaped        conform to the concave shape of the basque and to that of the        cup.    -   The lateral portion of the reinforcing plate may be lightened by        one or more recesses.    -   The reinforcing plate comprises a plurality of holes for        securing the textile layers and/or the underwire.    -   The elastic underwire cooperates with the reinforcing plates to        hold the latter by partially pressing them against the torso: in        fact only the plate lateral region opposite to the fingers is        pressed against the side of the torso, whereas the flexible        fingers, are not pressed and hold the chest and the cups.    -   The shaping of the fingers may be immediately obtained by a        molding of the plate, for example by injection, or by        thermoforming (under pressure and with heat).    -   The entire plate is shaped according to an inwardly concave        shape.    -   The material of the reinforcing plate is for example a        polycarbonate, preferably in a thickness of 0.5 to 1.2 mm, for        example 1 mm thick. This material is satisfactory both from the        point of view of its elastic rigidity and its moldability. In        addition, this material is light and is easily worked (cut out).        The fingers have a width which may vary according to the models        but is for example in the range of 1 to 2 cm over most part of        their extension, which is of several centimeters, for example        between 2 and 12 cm. The PET (polyethylene terephthalate), the        ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) may also be used. Other        rigid thermoplastic materials, and thermoforming well, may be        chosen from the group comprising the high impact polystyrene,        the high density polyethylene, some polyamides and some        polypropylenes. The basic material of the plate may be covered        with textile or nonwoven layers bonded together, possibly with        foam interposed, for example polyurethane foam.    -   The textile layers may be associated over all or part of their        surface with comfort layers, in particular foam layers, such as        a polyurethane foam.

The brassiere may be manufactured in form of a multilayer complexcomposed of the stratified textile layers, foam layers, and glue layers,the torso underwire and the reinforcing plate being disposed in athermoforming mold between two layers of the complex, preferably betweentwo foam layers.

The brassiere may also be made by tailoring, the textile layers beingsewn therebetween and to the underwire and the reinforcing plates.

The brassiere according to the invention may be a smart brassiere, aswimsuit brassiere, or be integrated in a garment element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description of a particular embodiment example. Referencewill be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a brassiere in accordance withthe invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative shape of the underwire ofthe brassiere of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the underwire of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flat view of an alternative of reinforcing plate of abrassiere of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an alternative of FIG. 1, showing the manufacturing in twoportions of the torso underwire of the brassiere of the invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are two perspective views of the brassiere of theinvention over the torso of a user, in respective view of three-quartersfront and three-quarters back.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 represent three alternatives of the shape of theunderwire of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The brassiere 1 of the invention comprises (cf. FIGS. 6 and 7) two cups2 of a highly concave shape on the internal side (substantiallyhemispherical), each surrounded towards the bottom of a basque 3 portionand on the side of a lateral portion 4. The two cups 2 espouse thebreasts 11 of the user 10. The basque 3 follows the periphery of thetorso of the user, at the front and the side. As it is seen, therepresented brassiere has neither straps nor back, but the inventionmight apply to a brassiere provided with straps and in particular with aremovable strap system. The lateral portions 4 extend on the sides ofthe torso of the user and return very slightly in the back of the user,as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 1 shows the basic constitution of the brassiere 1. It comprises anexternal textile layer 7, a torso underwire 20, two reinforcing plates30 and an internal textile layer 8.

The torso underwire 20 is made in a rigid metallic wire having someelasticity. It comprises a low horizontal main portion 21 at the front,surrounded by two high horizontal lateral portions 22 directed rearwardand located at several centimeters from the low portion, for examplebetween 3 and 10 cm. The front portion 21 is globally concave on theinternal side, with the exception of a curvature inversion in itscentral portion 23, concave on the external side, for better followingthe epigastric fossa. The front portion 21 is connected to the highlateral portions 22 on the one hand by a short horizontal rearwardreturn 24 and a vertical branch 25 (this branch may possibly join thelow portion with curved portions, or be slightly tilted). The highhorizontal portion 22 continues rearward by a vertical return 26directed towards the bottom. The assembly 25, 22, 26 forms an invertedsquare U-shaped arch which will be placed in the side 4 of the brassierebelow the armpits and will cooperate with the cup reinforcing plates asit will be seen later on. In FIG. 1 it is represented tabs 27 placed atdifferent locations in order to facilitate the securing the underwire tothe other elements of the brassiere 1, namely the textile layers 7, 8and the reinforcing plates 30. In this embodiment, all the underwire ismade with one single wire.

FIGS. 8 to 10 represent alternatives of shape of the high lateralportion 22 of the underwire 20 (the underwire of FIG. 1 is representedin dashes to allow the comparison). In FIG. 8, after the vertical risingportion 25, the high lateral portion 22 is rather rounded and blends inthe rear portion 26 which drops towards the bottom, so as to form arounded and slightly looped arch. In FIG. 9, after the vertical risingportion 25, the high lateral portion 22 runs in a zigzag and dropstoward the rear portion 26 with which it coincides. In FIG. 10, therising portion 25 is tilted because it starts farther from the centralportion 23 and curvingly joins the high lateral portion 22, itselfrounded and blending in the rear portion 26 which drops towards thebottom.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an alternative of underwire 20 represented in its atrest state, that is to say corresponding to the brassiere when it is notworn. The same elements as those which have just been described arefound, but it is realized that the lateral portions 24, 25, 22, 26strongly converge towards each other, due essentially to the curvature(with the concavity towards the inside) given to the horizontal branches22 during manufacture and to the angle formed between the front portion21 and the rear return 24. In the represented alternative, the overallwidth L of the brassiere at rest is for example of 230 mm, its depth Pof 173 mm and the distance between the ends 26 of the lateral portionsonly 60 mm. Thanks to the elasticity of the underwire, this distance Dmay be elastically enlarged when the user passes the brassiere aroundher torso, and the underwire then takes a position closer to what isrepresented in FIG. 1.

Returning to FIG. 1, it is seen that each reinforcing plate 30 is on onehand shaped globally concave inside to form the volume of the cups. Eachplate 30 comprises a lateral portion 31, possibly lightened by one orseveral recesses 32, which extends substantially horizontally, towardthe center of the brassiere, by substantially horizontal, untied andflexible fingers 33, 34, 35 and 36, of which the total length increasesfrom the shortest, the upper finger 33, to the longest, the lower finger36. Due to their shape, the fingers are substantially elasticallyflexible and may be spaced apart in a horizontal direction in front orbehind the cup 2; however, the fingers practically do not move in avertical direction and participate well in supporting the chest. Thelateral portion 31 is substantially rigid compared to the fingers, dueto its more solid and gathered shape. FIG. 6 shows in dashes theposition of the fingers inside the brassiere 1. The lower finger 36 isadvantageously located in the basque 3 just below the cup 2 or at itsbeginning and its length allows it to go practically up to the portionbetween the cups 6 of the brassiere. The upper finger 33 hardlypenetrates into the cup 2, while the intermediary fingers 34 and 35penetrate gradually more, the finger 34 substantially up to the centerof the cup and the finger 35 beyond the center, inwards, below themiddle of the cup. These fingers ensure a good hold of the chest ofwhich the efforts are thus transmitted on the lateral portions 31 of theplates 30. The lateral portions 31 of the plates 30 are retained inplace between the torso of the user on the one hand and the lateralportions of the torso underwire on the other hand: it has beenrepresented in FIG. 3 in a double continuous line/dashes the position ofthe underwire with its front branch 21 and, on the sides of the torsofront, the vertical branch 31 and the horizontal branch 22. The archshape of the lateral portions 25, 22, 26 of the underwire allowspressing against the side of the torso the lateral portion 31 of thereinforcing plate of which the flexible fingers 33-36 support the chestand give a shape to the cups 2; the weight of the chest is thus in parthung at the high point of contact with the torso, located rather highunder the arms of the user, and in part pressing on the torso front bythe bottom of the underwire.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plate includes multiple small holes, or evenhere pairs of holes 38, in the lateral portion 31 as well as in thefingers 33-34. These holes may be used to attach by sewing the internaland external textile layers 7, 8 to the plate at diverse determinedlocations, during the tailoring of the brassiere. Moreover, these holesalso contribute to lighten the brassiere and increase the breathabilitythereof. In an embodiment, the flat length L1 of the plate 30 is 280 mm,its overall height H1 is of 120 mm and its height H2 at the rear of thelateral portion 31 is of 73 mm.

The reinforcing plate 30 is made of polycarbonate in the range of 0,8 mmto 1,2 mm, for example 1 mm, thickness. If it must be glued to layers,in particular layers of foam (not represented), its adhesion to theneighboring layers may be reinforced by roughening its surface, eventhough the small holes 38 also allow the passage of the bridges of glue.

The textile layers 7,8 are for example a knitted textile of less thanone millimeter thickness, in particular a jersey mixed with polyamideand elastane giving a mesh liable to extend in all directions of theplane of the textile surface. They may be associated with layers offoam, for example polyurethane foam layers, of more or less thicknessaccording to the locations where they are provided and according to thepossible compression that they may undergo during a possiblethermoforming step during the manufacture of the brassiere.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that theunderwire is constituted of two added portions: on the one hand, thefront portion 21 with its two returns 24 and on the other hand thelateral portions in the inverted U-shaped arch 25, 22, 26, which can beassembled to each other thanks to connecting parts 28, 29 providedrespectively on the returns 24 and the vertical branches 25. Thisconstitution in two separate portions which may be assembled to eachother may be better adapted to some modes of manufacturing andassembling of the brassiere.

Advantageously, it may be provided on the inner portion 5 of the lateralportions 4 of the brassiere lines or dots 9 of a slip-resistant product,for example a silicone gel, for promoting the hold in position of thebrassiere.

Fitting tests have been performed with the brassieres of the inventionand have proven quite conclusive: the users were able to wear them forseveral hours (5 hours) without feeling discomfort and were able duringthis time to practice diverse light physical exercise such as walkingand simple dances without substantial displacement of the brassiere.

1.-10. (Canceled)
 11. A brassiere, comprising: a basque portion; a pairof concave cups coupled to the basque portion; and a pair of rigid cupreinforcements coupled to the concave cups and configured to helpsupport a user's breasts, each of the cup reinforcements extending atleast in part under an area of a respective cup of the pair of concavecups.
 12. The brassiere of claim 11, wherein each of the cupreinforcements comprises a finger extending under an area of therespective bra cup.
 13. The brassiere of claim 12, wherein each of thecup reinforcements comprises a pattern of apertures distributed alongthe finger.
 14. The brassiere of claim 12, wherein the finger ispositioned to extend along a length of the basque portion.
 15. Thebrassiere of claim 12, wherein the finger extends in a curve under therespective cup between a first side end of the respective cup to asecond side end of the respective cup.
 16. The brassiere of claim 11,wherein each of the cup reinforcements comprises a plurality of fingersextending toward a center of the respective bra cup.
 17. The brassiereof claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of fingers has a concaveshape to accommodate the concave shape of the respective bra cup. 18.The brassiere of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of fingers issubstantially rigid in a direction coextensive with the cupreinforcement, and elastically flexible in a transverse direction. 19.The brassiere of claim 18, wherein the coextensive direction issubstantially tangential to a surface of the cup reinforcements, and thetransverse direction is substantially perpendicular to the surface ofthe cup reinforcement.
 20. The brassiere of claim 16, wherein at leasttwo fingers in the plurality of fingers are arranged in a parallelconfiguration.
 21. The brassiere of claim 16, wherein the plurality offingers are arranged in a parallel configuration distributed in avertical direction of the brassiere.
 22. The brassiere of claim 21,wherein a length of each of the plurality of fingers is less than alength of an adjacent lower finger, such that a first, lowermost fingerof the plurality of fingers comprises the longest finger of theplurality of fingers and an uppermost finger comprises the shortestfinger of the plurality of fingers.
 23. The brassiere of claim 16,wherein each of the cup reinforcements comprises a pattern of aperturesdistributed along the plurality of fingers.
 24. The brassiere of claim23, further comprising a textile layer covering the basque portion andthe cups, the textile layer directly attached to the cup reinforcementsat one or more of the apertures.
 25. The brassiere of claim 11, whereineach of the cup reinforcements comprises a molded polycarbonatestructure.
 26. The brassiere of claim 11, further comprising a torsounderwire supporting the cup reinforcements, the torso underwirecomprising an arched rigid underwire forming an elastic springconfigured to partially envelop the torso of the user.
 27. The brassiereof claim 26, wherein the torso underwire comprises: a horizontal mainportion corresponding to a front of the torso and to the basque portionof the brassiere; a pair of lateral portions corresponding to sides ofthe torso; and a pair of structural connections coupling the horizontalmain portion to the lateral portions.
 28. The brassiere of claim 27,wherein the lateral portions of the torso underwire are formedcontiguously with the structural connections and the horizontal mainportion of the torso underwire.
 29. The brassiere of claim 27, whereinthe structural connection are configured, such that, when the brassiereis worn by the user, contact of the torso underwire with the torso ismade higher laterally than on a front of the brassiere.
 30. Thebrassiere of claim 11, wherein an assembly comprising the basqueportion, the cups, and the cup reinforcements is both backless andstrapless.
 31. The brassiere of claim 11, further comprising a comfortlayer attached to an inner surface of the cup reinforcement such thatthe comfort layer is configured to be positioned between a wearer andthe cup reinforcement.
 32. The brassiere of claim 31, wherein thecomfort layer comprises a foam.
 33. The brassiere of claim 32, whereinthe foam is a polyurethane foam.